Textile-spreading device.



No. 883,535. I v PATENTED' MAR. 31, 1908.

E. GESSNER. TEXTILE SPREADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 5, 1905.

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- ERNST GESSNER, OF AUE', GERMANY.

TExTILE-SPREADIN G DE VICE Application filed December 5, 1905. Serial No. 290,354.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST GEssNER, a subject of the Em eror of Germany, and a resident of Aue, I ingdom of Saxony, Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Textile Spreading Devices, of which the following is a specification. I

This device isprimarily intended to be attached to or used in connection with some 1 other machine in which the textile fabric is to receive treatment; the object of this device being to spread or transversely stretch the fabric immediately preliminary to said treatment so that the fabric shall receive such treatment in substantially the spread or stretched position in which it leaves this device.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central cross section of the device on the line 11;, of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a development of one of the cam grooves or trackways and of the slides operated thereby in their various positions relatively to the edge of the fabric. Figs. 4 and 5 are details.

1 is a driven shaft mounted upon the stationary supports 2, 3 which may be brackets secured to the main frame of the cloth treating machine, to the entrance end of which this device may be attached.

4, 5, are cylindrical heads splined to the shaft 1. In the peripheries of each of these heads are laned a series of guideways 6 parallel with the axis of rotation and in each of these guideways is slidably mounted a slide forming a series of slides circularly arranged around the axis of rotation, that are lettered in series in the drawing from a to (L inclusive.

7 is the fabric which overlaps and rests upon the two series of slides when in their forward position, as shown at the top of Fig. 2, but does not overlap them when in their backward position, as "shown at the bottom of Fig. 2. The two series of slides when the edge of the cloth overlaps and rests upon them, as shown at the top of Fig. 2, form the lower members of a series of clamps, the upper members of which clamps may be automatic in their 0 eration and are preferably constructed as ollows; a description of one answering for a description of all.

Upon the slide a, for example, (see detail Fig. 4) is fixed a bracket 8 containing a forwardly projecting overhanging arm 9 and a rearwardly projecting arm 10 carrying a stud 11 projecting toward the center of rotation, which stud may be, if desired, provided with an anti-friction roller. The forwardly projecting arm overhangs the forward edge of the slide a, which forward edge may be covered by a cloth plate 12 downwardly inclined at its forward end so as to serve for the proper guidance of the edge of the cloth on its upper surface and underneath the overhanging arm 9.

Upon a shaft 13 placed tangentially to its circle of rotation, is pivoted a bell-cranklever containing the arms 14 and 15. A spring 16'tends to press this lever from the position shownin full lines in Fig. 4 to that shown in dotted lines. Rearwardly extending from the arm 14 is a feeler 17 which, when the slide is in its extreme forward position, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 4, rests upon the top of the cloth 7 and prevents the end of the arm 14 from clamping the cloth against the slide cloth-plate 12.

18 is a stop which stops the arm 15 from following the backward movement of theslide a to its extreme and compels the bellcrank-lever to move against the pressure of the spring 16 into the full line position of Fig. 4, in which position, also, the end of the arm 14 is out of clamping relation with the cloth-plate 12 when the slide is in its extreme backward position. There is an intermediate position of the slide between the extremes shown in full lines and in dotted lines in Fig. 4 when neither the feeler 17 is supported by the edge of the cloth, nor the stop 18 is in contact with the arm 15 and in which position the cloth is clamped between the extremity of the arm 14 and the clothplate 12. A slot is provided in the clothlate so as to prevent the feeler 17 from being supported by the cloth-plate when not supported by the cloth itself.

Further description of the upper member of the clamping apparatus shown in Fig. 4 is unnecessary in view of the descri tion of one resembling it in Letters Patent 0 the United States N 0. 754,649 granted to me March 15th 1904.

Having now described the preferable construction of the cloth clamping mechanism mounted upon each ofthe clamp slides a, 00 etc. I will now describe (by reference articularly to Fig. 3) the motion receive by each series of clamps during the rotation of motion.

Commencing at the left of Fig. 3, it be observed that the four clamps a to a also be observed that from the position of'a to the position of a the clamped position advances to overlap the edge of the cloth and continues to advance to the position of a, after which it recedes, though still overlaping the cloth, to the position of a Iere the feeler 17 has fallen off of the edge of the cloth and the cloth is clamped between the extremity of the arm 14 and the slide cloth-plate 12, so that as the clamps recede from the a position to the a position, they spread or stretch the cloth as indicated in Fig. 3. Upon reaching the a position, while the slide continues to recede, the arm 15 of the clamping device is stopped from doing so by the stop 18 and the edge of the cloth is unclamped and the clamp recedes to the nonoverlap ing positions 11 and a It will be 0 served that of the sixteen.

clamped positions, six, or about one-third of them, are in nonoverlapping position, while five, or about another third, are in overlapping but nonclamping position, and five, or about another third, are in clamping position; By this division of the circle up into approximate thirds, I obtain time for running the cloth into position and for bringing up the clamps so as to overlap it in such position and bringing the clamp to bear and for spreading or stretching the cloth so clamped and for running the cloth out of clamping position to the machine into which it is to receive subsequent treatment.

I will next describe the mechanism by which I prefer to impart to the clamp slides the movements above described; the mechanism at one end of the machine being substantially the inverse of that at the other end. 19 is a wheel of irregular formation relatively to the radial plane so that the track or cam groove 20, which is formed in its periphery, when developed, has the irregular form or course shown in Fig. 3. In the operation of the apparatus, the wheel 19 is fixed. This may be done by extending the hub 21 of the wheel 19 into the support 2 and securing it in fixed relation thereto by the set-screw 22, so that the hub 21 forms abearing for the shaft 1. It is evident that when so fixed, the camgroove or trackway 2O acting upon the pins 11 of the various clamp slides will impart to the series of slides the movements represented by Fig. 3, as said slides are rotated by the head 4.

To. provide so that the width of the appaf cloth by the a justment, a a su t, of

independently of the hub 21; but in longitudinal adjustment, the two are moved as a unit. This adjustment is aflorded by loosening the set screw 22 and moving the hub 21 forward to the extent desired in the suport 2.

p The cloth may be run into the apparatus over the roller 24 and delivered therefrom on the pinwheel 25 and proceed thence immediately into a machine for such further treat ment as it may be desired to give'it.

In the apparatus above described, the gripping, spreading and releasing of the cloth is done transversely to the direction of travel and the slides or carriages by which the clamping members are carried are so indie vidually guided and operated that each moves transversely to the edge of the fabric with such accuracy and freedom from webbling-or variability of movement as to enable automatic clamping appliances to be depended upon for securing the edges of the cloth.

Although I have described above the form of clamping device that I prefer to utilize upon my rotating carriages, I do not Wish to be understood as limited to such form since I am aware that the carriages might be provided with other means for holding the edges of the cloth, either automatic or nonautoe matic. Furthermore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself with respect to the number, form or arrangement of the parts to any greater extent than the principle of my invention requires.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in com,- bination, cloth supporting devices and a series of cloth engaging devices rotating adj 8r? cent to the edge of the cloth so su ported and means whereby the members 0' said series. are moved transversely to the edge of the cloth into nonoverlapping position, overlapping but nonclamping position and clamping position, respectively, during approximately each third of the cycle of rotation.

, 2. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in com.- bination, a rotating series of cloth engaging devices, means whereby the members of said series are moved successively in 'nonQVerlapping position during a portion of the rotation, in overlapping posltion during another portion of the rotation and in clamping position during a portion of the rotation.

3. In-a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a rotatlng head, a series of clamps adapted to overhang the edge of the cloth on 5 ratus may be adjusted to suit varying widths the opposite side thereof from the head; said clamps moving with said head throughout its cycle of rotation and also transversely to its plane of rotation.

4. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a rotating head, a series of clamps adapted to overhang the edge of the cloth on the opposite side thereof from the head; said clamps being mounted on said head and free to move transversely to the plane of rotation thereof.

5. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a rotating head, a series'of clamp supports mounted on said head and each adapted to extend around the edge of the cloth and free to move transversely to the plane of rotation of said head and a series of clamps mounted on said series of supports and engaging the cloth on the opposite side from said head.

6. In'a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a rotating head, a series of carria es slidably mounted thereon, means where y saidcarriages are slid in a direction transverse to the edge of the cloth and cloth engaging devices mounted u on said carriages and adapted to extend to t e opposite side of said cloth from said head.

7. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a circular trackway, a head rotating relatively to said trackway, a cloth support upon said head, a series of cloth engagmg devices moving with said head throughout its cycle of rotation and adapted to ex tend to the opposite side of the cloth from said cloth su port and mechanism whereby said series of cloth engaging members are connected with said trackway.

8. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a series of interior supporting surfaces in circular arrangement, a series of opposed exterior clamping devices in concentric circular arrangement, a unitary head whereon both of said series are mounted with freedom of movement in a direction substantially parallel with the axisof said head, a concentric trackway and mechanism connecting bothof said series with said trackway.

9 In combination, the shaft 1, the heads 4, 5, the inversely moving slides mounted thereon in circular series each slide contain ing a cloth plate 12 adapted to underlie the cloth and a bracket 9 ada ted to overhang the cloth'and a cloth engaging device 14 pivoted to said bracket and a rearward extension 10, two circular trackways with which said rearward extensions from each head, respectively, engage, whereby upon the rotation of said heads the said two series of slides and parts carried thereby adapted to extend on opposite sides of the cloth therefrom are moved inversely.

10. In a cloth spreading and transferring apparatus, in combination, a'rotating head, a

series of clamps adapted to overhang the edge of the cloth on the opposite side thereof from the head, means controlled by the posi tion of the edge of the cloth whereby the line on which said clamps engage the cloth is determined, means whereby stretchin movement is im arted to said clamps and a bristling trans er surface 25 whereby the edge line position automatically determined by said clamps is maintained.

1 1. In a cloth spreadingapparatus, in combination, a rotating head, a series of clamps adapted to overhang the edge of the cloth on the opposite side thereof from the head; said clamps moving with said head throughout its cycle of rotation and also transversely to its plane of rotation.

12. In a cloth spreading apparatus, in combination, a rotating head, a series of clamps adapted to overhang the edge of the cloth on the opposite side thereof from the head; said clamps being mounted on said head and free scribing witnesses.

ERNST GESSNER. Witnesses:

FREDERICK J. DIETZMAN, ERNEST L. HARRIS. 

